Adjustable flexible strap



June 29, 19 48. ugs r 2,444,028

ADJUSTABLE FLEXIBLE STRA? Filed May 15, 1946 buckle usually securing the other strap end thereto,

mesh, or otherwise,

Fatented June 29,, 32948 with 2,444,02s ADJUSTABLE FLEXIBLE STRAP Eliot Bliss and Albert Bliss, Providence, It. I. Application May 15,1946,- SerialNo. 669,909 3 Claims. (CL 2-322) 7 Our invention relates to improvements in adjust'able straps, of the well-known type having flexible non-extensible strap portions of a length to encircle a limb or body torso or join two are ticle portions, together, :having a fixed end and an adjustable end. For many years the .two strap ends have been attached together by'means of a bucklet fixedly mounted on one strap end with the upper strap end passing through said overlapping the fixed strap and being adiustably secured by said buckle thereto, a standard type ofsuch structure being the usually so-called harnessbuckle having a tongue pivotally mounted thereon fitting into a selected hole in the adjustable strap end or which may have means to clamp the adjustable strap end thereto at various relative positions of the adjustable end. Whilethese types have. been flexible they have not been extensible in any great degree and havecaused such a pressure on the body of the wearer as to impair his freedom of movement and often caused the wearer bodily harm.

An object of our invention, therefore, is to provide a totally new type of belt entirely dispensing with the standard type of buckle and substituting for it a strain compensating member having a resiliently extensible portion projecting from one end thereof having means on the end thereof secured to one strap end and means on the opposite end of said connecting member for one of said securing means being detachable and one of said strap ends being adjustable in itself entirely independently of the connecting member.

A further object of our invention, therefore. is to overcome this great difllcult with former flexible straps or belts of this description by Providing a strap which is expansible for the free movement of the wearer thereof without harm to the wearer as is desirable when the wearer is moving rapidly as when exercising and is particularly desirable as to not exert pressure against the A further object or this construction is that it permits the use, we believe; for the first time, of a flexible metal belt 'in wearing apparel as it permits the metal-belt or strap to be sufllcientlyexpansible for use. While most flexible straps have been made of leather or fabrie which have a of a metal belt that it has no give at all and'hence: has been enwearing purposes, except possibly forornamental purpose j Our invention, therefore, makes possible the use of a metal belt constructed of flexible chain, with its novel ornamental colors, effects and possibility of designs.

, strap by removing oneor T PATENT OFFICE A further object of our invention relates tothe structure of the strain compensating connecting member which may be adjusted to thedesired expansibility in use and which by its own inherent construction maybe readily ornamented with awide variety of difierentdesigns. a

A further feature of our invention tres ides in the fact that most objectionable features of buckle straps are eliminated. The relative movement of one strap end over the other isentirelyeliminated. The adjustable strap end -znay be initially set to fit an individual person and the expansibilityof the connecting member takes care of any normal variationsin weightof the wearer, or should an excess of variation take place :the adjustable strap end maybe readily adjusted.

A further feature of our invention relates to the fact that we adjust a strap end relative to its own length rather than relative to its relative movement over the other strap end.; thus varying the length of an individual strap-end, in a metal more, Luke and in a fabric strap in the specific manner indicated here- A further objector our invention isthat as there is no movement of one s trap end relative to the other strap end or to the compensating member, that the wearing-effect of the strapends bearing against each other ,orfon one strap end in shifting the flexible tongue from -one hole to another or to a plurality of difierent'clamp ing positionsisentirelyeliminated. t l p 1 y ,A iu rther obiec t of our invention in certain aspects thereof is to provide a belt which is; more quickly detachable and attachable than standard types, asit is merely necessa y to fasten a hook on one end of a strap through ahole in the connectln g member. p

These and such other objects: offour as may: hereinafter p ppear will, be b est under stood from a, descriptionpf. the accompan ing "drawings which illustrate embodiments; thereof.

stomach or body of the wearer; after a full meal;

f strapin' use I along the line z-Lror Fig.

" Fi 4 is .a-disas i we preferably employ;

connecting member of portion thereof with its" position in the] box-likeco p Fig.5 is a transverse. sect n *Inthedrawings, pp i in H vFig. 1 is a perspectivetv i wfof our impro ved indottedlinesr p Fig.2 is a longitu l, ...b an visjijti e m r type of strain compensating on ecting l t h at rtiailvfpi i away of a modified form of our'improved connecting member.

' shown in 3 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of our invention employed on a flexible metal strap.

"In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicate like :parts throughout, i8 generally indicates an adjustable strap constructed in accordance with our invention. As stated, said adjustable strap is automatically extensible on movements of the object strapped,

such as movements of the torso 12 of the wearer shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 when moving rapidly or exercising, or the wrist 12" of the wearer wearing the bracelet strap shown in Fig. '1.

As stated, our invention comprises a non-extensible flexible strap portion l4 or l4" of a length to encircle a limb, such as the wrist l2" shown in Fig. 7 or body torso I2 as shown in Fig. 1 or to join two article portions together, such as the edges of shoes, overshoes or corsets, having. a flxed end l6 or l6" and an adjustable end i8 or l8" and a strain compensating member 28 or 28" having a resiliently extensible portion 22 or 22" projecting from at least one end thereof, having means such as the bail base 24 or 24' on its end secured to one of said strap ends, namely the adjustable strap end 18 as shown in Fig. 2 and means 26 which may comprise a rod or ball base 28 on the opposite end of said connecting member 28 and the hook 38 or 38" on the tip of the fixed strap end l6 for securing the other strap end thereto, with one of said securing means being detachable, such as the hook 80 on the strap end l6. Our invention is adapted for use with any type of a flexible strap,

such as a leather strap,"woven strap, knitted or other textile or other strap, and even may be used as shown in Fig. '7 with the flexible metal strap 14" shown therein, which comprises a plurality of links l suitably joinedtogether so that they may flex relatively to each other, The fixed end l6 may be attached to the compensating member in any suitable manner and the adjustable endmay be made adjustable in any suitable manner. Where a flexible metal strap is employed, as in other embodiment 28' shown in Fig. 6, both comprise 9. preferably rectangular box-like member and 28' comprising an inverted box 28 which may have its front surface suitably ornamented, if desired, as shown at 40 in Fig. 1, having the inturned rearwardly projecting side walls 42 or 42' and the end walls 44 or 44' having hole means 46 or 46" therein in both embodiments shown,

. spaced hole means 46 or 46' adjacent each side wall thereof. where a plurality of springs are to be employed, and, if desired, withsuitable screw holes 49 adapted to receive screws 46 or 45' for clampingthe cover or back portion 58 or 5! thereto after the device is assembled. Thus, the box connecting means is provided with spaced hole means 46 in each end thereof and a slidable theembodiment shown in Fig. 7, the end of the adjustable end l4" may be varied by adding or removing individual links l5. In the embodiment Figs. 1 and 2, however, the strap has a tip 32 thereof looped underneath it and is adjustably securable at a plurality of points 34 thereto, in the preferred embodiment shown by having a plurality of separable fastener elements 34 mounted at spaced distances on the lower surface of the strap, end l8 adjacent the end thereof and with said tip 32 looped underneath it and having a cooperating separable fastener element 36 on the upper surface thereof selectivelyattachablewithin a selected separable fastener element 34 on said end i8 to vary the length of the looped end 38 thereof. As stated, we provide a flexible strap portion having a fixed end and an adjustable end with the adjustment for theoverall length'of the belt or strap being in the adjustable end l8 of the strap l8 itself.

As stated, our invention includes the provision v ofa resiliently extensible strain compensating connecting member 28'within the belt or strap, having a resiliently extensible portion 22 projecting from one end of said member 28. We may construct our connecting member with one extensible portion only, but we have shown in the drawings in both the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, as including two extensible portions 22, duplicates of theother. If one of these is omitted, it is obvious that means must be provided on the opposite end of the commember 22 having means exterior of said box member comprising a rod 24 or 28 for attachment of each strap end [6 or l8 thereto, in the embodiment shown onerod 24 being adapted to extend through the transverse loop on the adjustable strap end l8 and the-other rod 28 being adapted to receive the hook 38 fordetachable securement of the flxed strap end l6 thereto. In the embodiment shown, we preferably provide the bail shaped members 22 or 22 as said slidable members, having a respective rod 24 or 28 forming a bail base and the spaced legs 48 or 48' projecting inwardly within said box extending through the holes 46 for this purpose, each leg having a portion 50 or 58' extending transversely of said box. We also provide spring means 62 or 52' interposed between end l6 any suitable means may be provided for detachably securing a strap end to said connecting member, that the adjustable strap end l8 may be adjustable in any manner and may be secured to the slidable member 22 in anyother suitable man- .ner than by having a rod or ball base 24 thereof extend through the space 39 provided by the looped end. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the legs 48 of the bail member project inwardly for a substantial distance parallel to each other, are then bent at right angles'centrally and than at right angles inwardly to provide the shoulders 63. The closely spaced inner portions .55 of said legs 48 are joined together by the integral cross piece 61 which is soldered to the plate 50 of substantially the width of the box to form the bases 50 ateach end thereof against which the compressible ends of the spring means 62 rest. The opposite ends of the spring means abut the inturned transverse box portions 54 which are provided in-the embodiment shown in Figs. 15 by the-legs of the U-shaped plates 66, having theirbases solderedto the inner surfaces of the side walls 42,50 that their legs 54 project transversely across a portion of said box to form shoulders 54 on said box against which the opposite ends of the springs 52 may rest. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the bail legs 48' project through the holes 46' and have their ends inturned transversely as at 50 to provide the transverse portions of said movable portions 22' against which the ends of the springs abut, the abutting portions 54 on the box 20 being portions of the end walls 44' thereof adjacent the holes 46' and the springs 52' may be suitably enclosed at the side of the box by the spaced plates 58 extending longitudinally of said box. Suitable screw holes 49 are provided in the box 20 at any desired portion thereof, in the embodiment shown being provided in the end walls thereof to receive the screws 45 for attaching the cover or back wall of the box thereto in either embodiment,

It is apparent, however, that our improved connecting member may be constructed of any desired shape provided it has one or two slidable members 22 with a portion 24 or 28 exterior of said box 20 for attachment of a strap end thereto and a portion to abut an end of the spring means 52 with its other end abutting the fixed portion 54 of said box.

The strap is first adjusted to the desired length by varying the position of the separable fastener element 36 in one of the spaced cooperating separable fastener elements 34, the belt is attached around the object to be covered and the fixed free strap end [6 is detachably secured to the opposite end of the connecting member 20 in the embodiment shown by inserting the hook 30 over the transverse rod or bail 28 posite end of the connecting member. It is thus obvious that no matter what position the wearer of the strap assumes in use or what rapid panting or other movements the wear'ers body goes through, that the connecting member expands sufiiciently in use to compensate for these movements, the springs 52 yielding for this purpose, the springs 52 causing the parts of the connecting member to resume their original positions when the strain is released.

It is apparent that the fixed strap end l6 may be readily unhooked when it is no longer desired to keep the strap attached.

It is apparent, therefore, that we have provided a novel type of adjustable strap automatically extensible on movements of the object strapped with the advantages described above.

It is understood that our invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An adjustable strap automatically extensible on movement of the object strapped, comprising a non-extensible flexible strap of a length to substantially encircle a limb or a body torso or to join two article portions together, having a rigid end portion having the tip thereof looped under said end portion to provide a hook and an adjustable end comprising a flexible end portion looped rearprojecting from the opwardly to provide a flexible loop, cooperating fastening elements secured to adjacent faces of said strap and looped end whereby the length of the loop may be adjusted, a strain compensating connecting member, bails attached to each end'of said strain compensating member on the underside thereof for receiving said respective hook and loop, one of said bails being resiliently connected to said strain compensating member.

2. An adjustable strap automatically extensible on movement of the object strapped, comprising a non-extensible flexible strap of a length to substantially encircle a limb or a body torso or to join two article portions together, having a rigid end portion having the tip thereof looped under said end portion to provide a hook and an adjustable end comprising a flexible end portion looped rearwardly to provide a flexible loop, cooperating fastening elements secured to adjacent faces of said strap and looped end whereby the length of the loop may be adjusted, a strain compensating connecting member, a bail attached to each end of said strain compensating member on the underside thereof for receiving said respective hook and loop, both of said bails being resiliently connected to said strain compensating member.

3. An adjustable strap automatically extensible on movement of the object strapped, comprising a non-extensible flexible strap of a length to substantially encircle a limb or a body torso or to join two article portions together, having a rigid end portion having the tip thereof looped under said end portion to provide a hook and an adjustable end comprising a flexible end portion looped rearwardly to provide a flexible loop, cooperating fastening elements secured to adjacent faces of said strap and looped end whereby the length of the loop may be adjusted, a strain compensating connecting member, a bail attached to one end of said strain compensating member on the underside thereof for receiving a respective one end of said strap, said bail being resiliently connected to said strain compensating member, said strain compensating member having transverse slot means adjacent the opposite end thereof for receivin said other end of said strap.

ELIOT BLISS. ALBERT BLISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France May 2, 1932 

